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Augustowskie Łaźbienie

On Thursday 29 September, there was a unique opportunity to learn what preparing tree and log hives for winter is and looks like. It is professionally called łaźbienie. A long time ago when tree beekeeping was one of many common occupations connected with forests, tree beekeepers used their own original jargon. This rich jargon strongly connected with the Old Polish language reminds us today of traditions of our language.
One of such terms is łaźbienie. In the old tree beekeepers jargon, it meant all works connected with autumn honey and wax harvest as well as the preparation of log and tree hives for winter. It is worth highlighting that only a part of honey was taken from bees during the whole season. The rest of it remained so that a swarm could survive long freezing winter in a good condition. Bees do not hibernate, but from the first autumn frost up until early spring they have to be active to keep a minimal temperature of their small bodies.
The meeting in the Augustów Forest District was inaugurated by the forest district manager, Mirosław Sienkiewicz, who familiarized guests with the specificity of foresters’ work as well as the project aimed at improving living conditions of bees in forests. A lot of material about successes in this field was presented by the forest district deputy manager, Adam Sieńko. It should be also mentioned that the same presentation will be shown during the most important festival of nature in Bristol as part of promotion of a film titled: “Honey Hunters”. An increasing significance of tree beekeeping in the region was best shown in the speech given by the Mayor of Augustów, Wojciech Walulik who emphasised that he gives guests who visit his office honey from tree hives which is, undoubtedly, a very valuable and original gift.  The meeting was also filled with kind words from Father Wojciech Kalinowski - a diocesan chaplain of foresters and a keen beekeeper cultivating rich traditions of the Kurpie region beekeeping.  Therefore, it can be said that, apart from bringing unquestionable benefits, tree beekeeping consolidates the local community.
At the end of the meeting, one of the characters of the film, “Honey Hunters”, Adam Kolator showed what łaźbienie looks like in practice. Referring to the tradition, he took a small amount of honey from a tree hive which then the guests could taste.    

Photos and text by Roman Rogoziński

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